Skydiver who cheated death flown home

A SKYDIVER who miraculously cheated death when he plummeted to the ground as he tried to land in the Californian desert was yesterday flown back to Northern Ireland by air ambulance.

Paul McMahon, 29, from Baronscourt near Castlederg in Co Tyrone, a keen and experienced skydiver, has completed more than 100 jumps in America and Europe.

He was on his fourth jump of more than 4,267 metres (14,000ft), over the Californian desert, when the accident occurred.

Although initial hopes for his survival were poor, it is hoped that he will make a full recovery.

Mr McMahon arrived into Belfast City Airport shortly after 7am yesterday morning by air ambulance and was subsequently taken to hospital.

His father Victor was at the airport to meet him.

Mr McMahon had been preparing to land during the jump when his parachute became entangled causing him to smash into the ground from a height of more than 30m.

Miraculously, he survived the fall, but suffered multiple injuries, including two badly broken legs and a crushed pelvis.

He was placed on a life support machine after losing six pints of blood at the scene and was unconscious for three days.

Crucially, however, his spine and head were not seriously injured in the accident and his family are hopeful that he will make a full recovery.

He is expected to spend up to five months in hospital recovering from the fall and it may be more than two years before he can walk again.

Mr McMahon, who is a qualified physiotherapist and fitness fanatic, had just got a job as a fitness instructor with the district council in his native Castlederg in Co Tyrone.

He was also planning to climb Mount Everest next year in order to raise money for disabled sports people.